Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Union Tribal Affairs Minister Shri Arjun Munda concludes his two-day Odisha tour
Announced inclusion of Kalahandi in the new Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana
Minister interacted with beneficiaries of several central sector schemes in various places across Kalahandi
Calls central and state government officials to work in coordination to reach out to the last mile beneficiary
Union Tribal Affairs Minister, Shri Arjun Munda on his second day tour of Odisha advised the central and state government officials to work in coordination in a bid to reach out to the last mile beneficiary. The Minister also announced inclusion of villages of Kalahandi in the new Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana.
The minister said the government as a policy maker should ensure that the benefits reach out to the persons in need. He asked the officials to conduct field visits, meet the beneficiaries, find the gaps and take every possible step to plug those. The minister further assured of a complete support from the Government of India at every step.
On the occasion, the minister talked about a new scheme for the rural development, Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana, and said that the objective of this new scheme is to ensure that the programmes and schemes introduced by all the 41 ministries of the central government should be coordinated and implemented properly at the bottom level.
On the Aspirational District Programme of the NITI Aayog, review of which was done by the minister earlier, he said that through the scheme, steps are being taken to ensure overall development of the areas as well as its people. He commended the officials on the work they have done to improve the health and education infrastructure in Kalahandi.
Talking about the Ekalavya Vidyalayas, the union minister said that a total of 740 such schools are being constructed in different parts of the country and efforts are on to improve the quality of learning and impart education at these schools in line with the ones like CBSE in order to prepare its students for various competitive examinations.
About the ongoing Covid Vaccination Programme of the Country, he said that India has been helping other countries through vaccine supply and the country has set an example worldwide. He said that similarly during the Amrit Kaal at a time when the country is celebrating the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, everyone should take steps to show the might of the country.
He thanked the people for giving the opportunity to the central government with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi as its Pradhan Sevak to serve the people of India. He said that the government in the last eight years has taken a leap to ensure a holistic development of the nation. He said government under PM Modi has been taking all round efforts for the development of each and everyone.
About marketing of the tribal products, the minister informed that geo tagging of the products are being done through TRIFED and efforts are on to provide market linkage to the tribal products. The minister also advised the officials to come up with a roadmap to promote the art and culture of Kalahandi.
During the day, the minister also met a group of Kutia Kondh in Kalahandi. The minister learnt that eight families in which there are 64 people have been brought down from the mountains and given settlements at the plains where they have been given houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, toilets under Swachh Bharat Mission and also employment under MGNREGA.
The minister further visited a government school in Bhatangpadar in Kalahandi, Odisha and enquired about the facilities provided in the school. Later, the minister met a women self-help group of Kutia Kondh. The Minister learnt that the women's group market and sell lemon grass plant along with doing its cultivation.
SM/SSP/GCD